Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting over heating contour

My contour after basic(fluid, filter, seals change) transmission service at AAMCO now over heats within a mile of driving. So far an attempt is being made to see if the Thermostat is stuck open or broken to see of it needs to be replaced.

Any other suggestins as to why a contour would overheat so quickly after starting?

Waterpump.

BTW I don't believe there is a filter that is serviceable on atx, also what seals?

I second waterpump. Do you have the Duratec or Zetec engine?

v6 duratec is what I own

the guys mentioned that the things that are often replaced within their basic service is the fluid, filter and seals if any.

if you guys suggest the water pump I will call the shop now and have them check it now.

sorry for taking so long to reply for I could not find the reply button and also it seems that everytime ones leaves the internet you are signed off (what is up with that Lance)

just told the shop to check the water pump

he said that it could be the pump but that
changing the pump could be a difficult task
I guess this means expensive

any ideas on the cost of a new water pump and the cost of the labor, in hours, to have it replaced?

spoke to shop and it turns out to be the water pump

cost 350 plus tax to fix (replace waterpump and thermostat)

so moderators could an AAMCO basic service engine check cause the water pump to brake?

Hold on there sparky. Yes it is more expensive if they replace the whole thing. But you're likely the latest victim of impeller disintigration.

Many people have fixed this themselves as the part you need (1/2 the pump) only costs ~$70 and it is VERY easy to do yourself. Even for a newbie.


Hey, trust us. Remember, we told you it was the waterpump and then you had to tell them. Nice...

yea well if you do not mine but I am at work now and would not know where to find the pump anyway and I cannot fix the car now myself and the car should be ready in four hours for me to drive home. so is 5-times the cost okay no but I must accept the cost of convenience

why do or what causes impellers to break?

It was bad engineering. The impeller (circular finned disk that pushes the water through) is made of plastic. It can become weak, develop hairline cracks, then eventually splits apart into a couple or sometimes a million pieces.

The replacement ones by GMB (I think that's the company) are metal.

This was the how-to for future reference
http://www.contour.org/mods/mods.cgi?s=howto&display=waterpump

Can I assume that the cooling water or antifreeze or engine coolant must have been dirty and a big chunk of debris must have hit a blade on the impeller damaging it but this must have happened during the full power engine test performed by AAMCO. and look AMMCO then returned the car to me knowing of this problem.